“No one is saying that we have to return to V8-level prices, but there must be a middle ground.”

Sauber’s supplier Ferrari, however, has already vetoed Jean Todt’s attempt to impose an engine cost cap, so now the FIA president is on board with Bernie Ecclestone’s desire for a ‘client engine’ to run parallel to the existing rules.

“Six to seven million (euro) I think is a great number,” Kaltenborn said. “I would hope that Ferrari offers us the current engine for this money. But I simply cannot imagine that such an engine (the independent 2.5 litre) comes in.

“We’ve just seen that Ferrari has its right of veto. So why discuss something when you know that at some point the end of the flagpole will be reached?” she added. (GMM)